Peer Challenge in the South East Orientation and Preparation Please contact if you have any questions

What is Peer Challenge? Important part of the sector-led improvement activity Directed by the host DCS Self-evaluation undertaken by the host, and shared with the visitors 1.5 days of field work gathering evidence 0.5 days reflections and feedback At least 6 months later, follow-up visit

Who are the Challengers? A team of four, drawn from different authorities A DCS, an Assistant Director, and 2 x practitioners Nominated by their DCS Staff time supplied on a mutual basis between the participants in each Round

Topics Summary from Rounds 1-7 (38 challenges) Early Help x 7School Improvement x 7 Alternative Education x 5Educational Psychology x 2 Children’s Centres x 3LSCB arrangements x 2 SEND x 2Work with Families x 2 Child Sexual ExploitationCiC Placement Stability Social Work PracticePartnerships Health IntegrationRaising Participation Age Missing ChildrenYOS

Participants Summary from Rounds 1-7 (38 challenges) Bracknell Forest - 4Brighton and Hove - 4 East Sussex - 2Hampshire - 2 Hertfordshire - 1Kent - 2 Medway - 1Milton Keynes - 2 Oxfordshire - 1Portsmouth - 3 Reading - 2Southampton - 2 Surrey - 3West Berkshire - 3 West Sussex - 1Windsor and Maidenhead - 3 Wokingham - 2

Modelling Good Practice Reflective Practice Professional Supervision Subject to Independent Audit

Reflective Practice Obviously for the host, who undertakes a self-evaluation of the topic The topic is nominated by the host DCS, and fits with active improvement journey Less obviously, the Peer Challenge event is also a great opportunity for the visiting team members to reflect on their own practice

Professional Supervision Of the host organisation by the visiting challengers Important that the team includes a Director, and Assistant Director and practitioners with relevant professional experience

Independent Audit Peer Challenge is not the same as Case Record Review Observation of Practice Validation of Audits … but the programme organised by the hosts may include some of these elements

Assurance Triangle

Essential Principles The visitors: are engaged at the invitation of the host DCS act in the host’s interests, and provide assistance as critical friends to the host’s improvement journey

Peer Challenge IS Critical Friend Offering professional insight Appreciative enquiry Private, narrative feedback Context specific Responsive to host circumstances IS NOT Inspection About making judgements Deficit analysis Published discoverable reports Templated Following the visitors’ formula

…and now for some Reflection Explore your hopes, fears, worries, concerns, questions and queries Listening Practice “Time to Think” – Nancy Kline (1999, ISBN: ) …then we will decide how to allocate the remaining time together

Exercise

Tips for Peer Challengers Observe the 80/20 rule –You listen for 80% of the time –You speak for 20% of the time Ask don’t tell –Remember it is about encouraging reflective practice –Gather evidence by listening to what they say Never, ever start “In my authority, we …”

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Questions? Open not closed –Tell me about …How do you …What is important about…Have you considered …I’m curious, please explain more … Work through Bloom’s hierarchy –Invite analysis and evaluation as well information

And if you are stuck … Two stand-by questions: –what went well? (WWW) –…and it would have been even better if … (EBI)

…and if you are really stuck … …is there anything else you want to say?

Tips for Hosts Be good hosts – make sure the visitors are well looked after (food, rest, travel, base room, wi-fi) Programme ‘me/us’ time for the visitors A range of sources of evidence – Cllrs? Partners? Service Users? Managers? Staff? Observation of practice?